Commitment To Rutgers ‘Like A Dream’ For McKenna

Mathis McKenna LHP / OF / Cite-des-Jeunes, QC / 2026

RIGAUD, QC - When Mathis McKenna made his college commitment to Rutgers he was literally speechless.

“I was so happy, I wasn’t saying a single word,” McKenna reflected. “Coach said, ‘are you okay?’ I was just so excited that they gave me a good offer. It was like a dream. I wasn’t expecting it.”

It wasn’t long ago that McKenna, who attended Cite-des-Jeunes High School but is now doing online classes at a virtual school in Ontario, reclassified to 2026.

“I wasn’t expecting anything to happen this year,” the 17-year-old explained. “I was expecting it next year so I reclassified from 2025 to 2026. I decided this summer I’d prepare myself to study English. It’s a big step to make college easier. Plus, I’m not the fastest pitcher, I throw mid-80s. I thought it would help to have another year to develop.”

But Mike Garza, the associate head coach at Rutgers, saw the left-hander throw and interest began. A trip south from Quebec followed.

“I was planning to go to New York to a camp at St. John’s so I also scheduled one with Rutgers,” McKenna noted. “I pitched a bullpen at Rutgers and was feeling part of the family already. I was very impressed with the school. The facilities are new and very nice. I was seeing myself with Rutgers.”

That was on Aug. 17. Eight days later it became realistic.

“We talked more and he offered a good scholarship on Aug. 25,” related McKenna, who was also considering St. John’s and UL Monroe. “I accepted it right away. I just saw myself with Rutgers. It’s in a good conference and I’m close to my family. They’re only six hours away. That had a huge impact on my decision. My family is really into baseball and now they can come see me on a visit and watch me pitch.”

Admittedly, expectations of making a college commitment sometime this year were low for McKenna.

“I didn’t think much would happen, but after I did a camp in the middle of June with a lot of scouts there things picked up,” McKenna reflected. “They followed me on Twitter and my summer team, ABC, also got some schools following me. But I wasn’t expecting a lot to call me.

“My first call was with St. John’s on Aug. 1. I got a call later from Rutgers when I was at the Canada Cup and things started to become very overwhelming for me. I just tried not to worry much. I knew if a coach would see me, I knew I had the talent to do it and I’m just getting better.”

Rutgers sees a lot of projectability in the 6-1 185-pound southpaw.

“I’m a lefty, so that’s a big plus,” McKenna said about what stood out to the coaches at Rutgers.

“I can locate my three pitches - fastball, change and curve - and throw all of them for strikes. Everything looks easy on the mound. They saw the potential in me.”

Recent improvement has taken place according to the Rutgers recruit.

“This has been my best year so far,” McKenna explained. “I was with a new team for me in Quebec, ABC, and I got more comfortable as the summer went along and I was throwing more strikes. We were playing 18 to 22 year olds and it was scary at first, but after that I decided to attack the zone and it went well for me. I didn’t allow a run after June 15.”

McKenna pointed to pitching coach Luis Rodriguez and his father, Patrick, with helping in development and recruitment, as well as crediting his family and coaches for aiding the cause in a baseball journey that has not been difficult despite living in Quebec.

“I’m in a big organization, ABC, and we travel a lot in the states so it’s not tough to get seen,” McKenna related.”We went to Georgia and Texas this summer and I did the Canada Cup with a bunch of scouts there. Everybody knows ABC. It’s got a name and has a lot of connections.”

A major in business and marketing is the plan according to McKenna, who is excited about what lies ahead at the Big 10 Conference university located in New Brunswick, N.J.

“It’s gonna be tough and be a big change living there and away from family, but I can focus more on myself now,” McKenna said. “Two things I’ll do is study and train hard to get better. I’m used to speaking French, so it will be a change getting used to English.”